Japan Routs Tennessee, 12-2, to Win 2012 Little League World Series

Noriatsu Osaka had three home runs and a triple, as the team from Tokyo, Japan beat Goodlettsville, Tennessee, 12-2, on Sunday in the championship game of the 2012 Little League World Series in South Williamsport, PA.

Tokyo starter Kotaro Kiyomiya struck out eight, as the Japanese held Tennessee to two hits just a day after they scored 24 runs in the US title game. Solo home runs by Brock Myers and Lorenzo Butler gave Goodlettsville its only runs of the day. The game ended in the fifth inning after Osaka’s third homer forced the 10-run rule into effect.

Earlier in the day, Bradley Smith had two doubles and three RBIs to lead Petaluma, California over Aguadulce, Panama, 12-4, in the Little League World Series third-place game.